Cracked Header on a TJ

Snowboardingmofo

New Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Location
Concord, NC
The header on my 97 TJ has started to crack and I was wondering if I continue to drive it with it cracked, will it mess up the motor? I am taking a trip to the beach next week and plan to drive the TJ, should I be worried with the header being cracked? Also, any suggestions on what would be a good aftermarket replacement for when I do get it fixed. Any help would be aprreciated.
 
By header are you saying the exaust manifold? If so it is cast and can be fixed. Would need to come off of it to be fixed right. If you plan on replacing it, a quick fix (patch)would be some JB weld. wire brush it good and put several layers on it, and allow it to harden. Also, if possible, I would drill a small hole at both ends of the crack to keep it from spreading further, and patch over that too.

As far as damage, you would have to have a sizable hole in it. What happens there is the valve will draw the cooler air back thru the hole. Hot valve vs cool air, can lead to a warped valve. But that's not likely at all with just a crack.

Hope this helps
 
Just a heads up

If you are planning on taking it to the beach, and how big of a crack.
Driving on the beach is going to shake that thing something fierce. The crack will get MUCH bigger. Like by the time you get back you will have a set of "custom" open headers. It's noisy on the ride home.
PLUS you have a good chance of (or at least my experience was 100%) of getting salt water/water/other crap down in towards the cat and ruining it.
:mad:
So this time when mine cracked, I replaced it before driving it much.
I didn't feel like replacing the cat again.
As for replacement, it depends. You can get one of the cheapo aftermarket ones with a "lifetime" warranty for about 150-170 shipped with gaskets. Headers start at 300 and go to 500+
I bought a used set of headers from a guy on here. Hopefully they won't crack anytime soon:D
Of course since to get to the thing, you have to take the intake off etc etc etc, figure out how to get an extra 2 bends in your elbow, the labor on it is stupid if you take it somewhere.
Good luck. If it's a real small crack, you'd probably be fine though.

Just as a heads up, this is what mine looked like:
exhaust.jpg

Notice the JB weld that held for about a week? and then the other pipe cracked and seperated completely?
 
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